A dental crown restores a tooth’s shape, size, and strength. It fully encases the visible portion of your tooth or dental implant. Once it is permanently bonded in place, only a Dentist or specialist can remove it.

With proper care and good oral hygiene, the life of a crown can range from 5 to 15 years.

Crowns require two office visits.

A crown may be diagnosed by the Dentist to:

Restore and protect a tooth that is worn, decayed, cracked, or broken

Protect and support a tooth after a very large filling or root canal treatment

Crown Types

The Dentist will recommend the best type of crown for your dental restoration needs based on the chewing placement and structure of the tooth or implant that requires protection. There are three types of crowns. Each type has its own characteristics and qualities:

Full Porcelain

Porcelain is attractive, strong, stable, and highly resistant to wear. It offers a high level of biocompatibility because it does not contain metal. A porcelain crown provides the best natural color match to the rest of your teeth and is an excellent choice for front teeth.

Full-Metal

Metal offers strength and endurance. A metal crown may be recommended for back teeth where the forces of biting and chewing are the greatest. A metal crown rarely chips or breaks. In addition, it requires minimal removal of tooth structure.

A gold or other high-noble metal crown offers biocompatibility. A base metal crown is often the least expensive treatment options; however, it lacks biocompatibility and may cause allergic reactions or gumline discoloration.

Patient Experience

After a thorough exam of your teeth, gums and supporting bone structure, the Dentist will discuss treatment options with you and answer your questions. If the agreed upon-treatment is a dental crown, the Dentist will apply a local anesthetic to prepare your tooth or dental implant.

After your tooth or dental implant has been prepared and shaped for a crown:

A putty-like material is used to make impression of your prepared teeth. Your crown will be fabricated for a precise fit based on this impression.

You will be fitted with a temporary crown to protect your tooth/implant and gums until your permanent crown has been fabricated.

During a second office visit, the Dentist will fit your permanent crown and bond it to your tooth or dental implant.

Routine dental checkups are vital to good oral hygiene and are the best way to detect problems at their earliest stages which saves unnecessary discomfort, time, and money.

The Academy of General Dentistry recommends checkups twice a year. Oral hygiene needs change with age and the condition of your teeth and gums. The dentist or hygienist may recommend a checkup schedule that is more or less frequent than twice a year.

What to Expect

Your dental checkup includes:

A visual exam of your mouth, face, jaw and neck

Digital diagnostics, as determined by your dentist

A gingival pocket exam

Professional cleaning of your teeth

Comprehensive data capture in an electronic dental record

Visual Examination

During a visual exam, the dentist will use an intraoral camera with sophisticated magnification and lighting to see all surface areas inside your mouth.

The dentist looks not only for cracked and decayed teeth, but also for growths and sores on the roof and floor of your mouth, tongue, lips, gums, and the mucous membranes that line your cheeks and gums. Then the dentist will check the lymph nodes of your head, jaw and neck for pain, tenderness and flexibility.

Digital Diagnostics

Digital X-rays: Digital X-rays detect dental problems that cannot be found during a visual exam. We use Digital X-rays that provide instant results and emit 90 percent less radiation. The dentist determines how often you need to have Digital X-rays.

Daily tooth brushing and flossing remove food debris and plaque from the gingival pocket. If not removed, harmful bacteria penetrate the gumline and deepen the pocket.

As the depth of a gingival pocket increases, so does the risk of tooth damage and infection that leads to gum disease.

During your exam, a hand-held instrument is gently placed between gums and teeth (sulcus) to measure the depth of each pocket.

In its earliest stage, gum disease may be reversible. Since it rarely has symptoms of pain, it is possible to have gum disease and not know it.

Professional Cleaning

Your teeth are cleaned using special instruments to remove plaque from above and below the gumline. Afterwards, your teeth are polished. Tooth polishing makes your teeth look and feel great. It also smoothes tooth surfaces so plaque is less likely to accumulate.

Electronic Dental Records

The records of our patients’ dental checkups, diagnostics and treatments are kept electronically. Our patients benefit because our dentist has immediate, comprehensive access to medical histories as well as the results of previous and current exams, diagnostics, treatment plans and progress reports. Electronic dental records improve patient safety and create clinical efficiencies that help reduce patient waiting time before and during appointments.

Good Oral Hygiene

The key to healthy teeth and gums is keeping plaque and food decay from building up in your mouth. Plaque and food decay attract harmful bacteria that cause cavities, gum disease and persistent bad breath.

Your tongue attracts bacteria, too. During the normal process of eating, tiny fragments of food collect on your tongue. As these fragments decay, bacteria create a filmy white coating on the top of your tongue.

Practice the four-step routine to keep plaque and harmful bacteria from building up in your mouth.

Easy Four-Step Routine

To keep your teeth and gums healthy:

Brush your teeth and use an antiseptic mouthwash twice daily (after breakfast and before bedtime)

Use dental floss daily

Clean your tongue regularly by using a toothbrush or a tongue scraper

See your dentist for routine dental checkups

Benefits of Good Hygiene

When you practice good oral hygiene, you will:

Have less plaque to remove during routine dental checkups, so professional cleanings will be faster and more comfortable

Minimize your need for dental procedures due to tooth decay or gum disease

Minimize your annual dental budget

Feel healthier

Enjoy fresher breath

Be more confident about your smile

Infants & Small Children

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that a child’s first visit to the dentist be around age three unless any of these dental health risk factors exist:

Sleeping with a cup or bottle

Thumb sucking

Teeth staining

Down Syndrome

Children’s Oral Hygiene

When your child’s teeth begin to erupt, wipe them daily with a moist washcloth to remove tooth plaque.

As your child grows more teeth, use a soft child’s toothbrush with non-fluoride toothpaste (like Baby OraGel) until your child is able to spit out the toothpaste.

When your child is ready to use fluoridated toothpaste, use only a small pea-size amount on the toothbrush. Swallowing too much fluoridated toothpaste can lead to staining of children’s teeth (dental fluorosis).

Stay calm. Focus on stopping the bleeding and protecting the injured tooth or area by following the appropriate instructions in this section. Injuries to your teeth and gums can result in infection or other complications — so make sure you see your Dentist.

If your emergency is life-threatening, dial 911 for Emergency Medical Services or go immediately to a hospital emergency room.

Severe Pain

The most common causes are debris lodged under the gum line, a lost filling or crown, a cracked or broken tooth, or an infection. Only a thorough examination by your Dentist can determine the underlying cause of severe pain.

Until you see your Dentist, apply ice to the painful area for 10-20 minutes of every hour. To alleviate pain, take acetaminophen as directed on the packaging label.

Debris between Teeth

Carefully insert a piece of dental floss (never a sharp or pointed object) between your teeth. Be gentle so you do not cut the gum tissue. If you are unable to remove the object, see your dentist right away.

Chipped or Broken Tooth

It may be possible to reattach the pieces to your tooth – only your Dentist can tell you for sure. Take the following steps and see your Dentist right away. Remember to take the pieces with you.

Lost Filling or Crown

Schedule an appointment with your dentist. You can relieve pain caused by air in contact with the exposed part of your tooth by using clove oil (available over-the-counter in pharmacies and supermarkets). Just dip a cotton swab in clove oil and apply it to the exposed part of your tooth. Putting an ice pack on your face over the area that hurts also may relieve the pain.

Toothache

Clean your mouth out by rinsing thoroughly with warm water. Gently floss around the tooth to remove any food particles that may be trapped between your teeth or just under your gum line. If your tooth continues to hurt, see your dentist as soon as possible.

Mouthsores

If your mouth sores are caused by having new braces, apply a topical anesthetic (available over-the-counter at your pharmacy). To alleviate pain, take acetaminophen as directed on the packaging label.

Pain, Swelling, or Abscess

See your dentist right away because gum pain or swelling can be the symptoms of an abscess (infection) that forms in gum tissue or in a tooth’s root and the area that surrounds it. There are many reasons why gums can swell, become painful, or abscess. Only a thorough exam by your Dentist can identify the underlying cause.

If the abscess ruptures, you may experience a sudden rush of foul-smelling and foul-tasting fluid from the swollen or painful area. Rinse your mouth with warm water immediately.

Food trapped between Teeth

While this commonly occurs, it is not a dental emergency. To dislodge the food, try tying a small knot in the middle of some dental floss, or use an interproximal brush or toothpick.

A filling repairs and restores the surface of a tooth that has been damaged by decay, fracture, or wear. A dental filling strengthens the tooth. If tooth decay is not repaired at its early stages, it will worsen and additional or alternative dental treatments may be necessary. With proper care and routine oral hygiene, a filling has a lifespan of 5-12 years, depending upon the type of filling material used.

Warning Signs

Tooth sensitivity is the most common early warning sign of enamel loss due to tooth decay. While there could be a number of reasons for this sensation, only your Dentist can diagnose its underlying cause. If a damaged tooth surface is not treated early, your discomfort will increase.

When Prescribed

A filling diagnosis is made when:

The surface enamel of a tooth is damaged due to decay, fracture, or wear.

A tooth’s surface needs to be evened out to improve your ability to bite or chew.

Patient Experience

After a thorough exam of your teeth, gums and supporting bone structure, your Dentist will discuss treatment options with you and answer your questions. If the agreed-upon treatment is a dental filling, your Dentist will:

Apply a local anesthetic to the affected area of your mouth

Use a hand-held instrument to prepare your tooth by removing the decayed or damaged tooth surface

Cleanse the prepared tooth to remove debris and bacteria

If necessary, Isolate the tooth using a small, protective sheet called a “dental dam” to keep it clean and free of saliva during your procedure

Select the dental filling material based on the placement of the tooth, the location of the damaged area of the tooth, and the extent of its surface damage

Apply adhesives and filling material to the prepared area and shape it to match the look and feel of a natural tooth

Expose a special hand-held light to the filling material to harden the repaired surface of your tooth

An endodontic treatment saves a severely injured, cracked, or decayed tooth when its pulp becomes inflamed or infected. If it is not treated promptly, pain or a tooth abscess results. Endodontic treatment is also known as a “root canal.”

Root canal treatment is completed in one or two office visits, depending on the presence of infection and the required treatment plan. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth. With good oral hygiene, the restored tooth has the potential to last a lifetime.

What are some common symptoms?

See your dentist if you experience any of these symptoms:

Tooth or gum pain, discoloration, or prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold

A tooth that is tender when it is touched

A tooth abscess (pus enclosed in the tissues of the jawbone at the tip of an infected tooth)

Pus drainage in your mouth

Swelling or tenderness in the lymph nodes under your jaw

Sometimes an endodontic problem can exist without warning signs. In these cases, a Digital X-ray taken during a routine dental checkup will reveal the tooth damage.

What is a root canal treatment?

Root canal treatment involves the removal of the diseased pulp along with the tooth’s nerve (located within a tooth’s root canal). The pulp chamber and root canal(s) of your tooth are then cleaned, medicated and sealed. A dental crown or other restorative treatment is used to protect and strengthen the tooth.

What happens after I am diagnosed?

After reviewing a Digital X-ray of your tooth, your dentist will thoroughly examine your teeth, gums and supporting bone structure, recommend a treatment plan, discuss it with you, and answer your questions. If a root canal is needed:

A local anesthetic is applied to the affected tooth and surrounding area

A small, protective sheet called a “dental dam” is used to isolate the tooth to keep it clean and free of saliva during your procedure

An opening is made in the top of the tooth and your endodontist will remove the soft pulp and nerve and then shape the interior for filling

The root canal is cleaned, medicated, and filled with a rubber-like biocompatible material (gutta percha)

The dentist will then place a permanent restoration, such as a crown, to protect the tooth

Tooth whitening enhances the brightness of natural teeth; but it’s not for everyone. Discuss it with your Dentist before you take action.

Tooth whitening enhances the brightness of natural teeth, but it’s not for everyone. Discuss it with your Dentist before you take action, especially if you have:

Discolored or sensitive teeth

White spots or decay on your teeth

Infected gums

A bridge, crown, or other dental work (especially involving front teeth)

The lifespan of whitened teeth can range from 4-12 months, depending on the type of treatment used and your consumption of food and drink that can easily stain teeth (such as blueberries, coffee, and tea).

Types of Whiteners

If your Dentist agrees that you are a candidate for tooth whitening, you can choose either an over-the-counter tooth whitening kit or a Dentist-supervised treatment.

Over-The-Counter

If using an over-the-counter whitening kit, choose one approved by the American Dental Association and follow the directions on its package. Store-bought kits require 7-30 days of consistent use for full effect. Individual results can vary.

Dentist-Supervised

A Dentist-dispensed take-home kit contains a higher concentration of whitening agent than a store-bought kit and is as easy to use. You are likely to be more satisfied with the results of a Dentist-dispensed kit than by a store-bought kit.

In-Office Treatment

After a thorough exam of your teeth, gums and supporting bone structure, your Dentist will tell you whether tooth whitening is a safe option for your smile. If the agreed-upon treatment is an in-office, Dentist-supervised treatment, your Clinician will:

Prepare your mouth by covering your lips and gums so that only your teeth are exposed

Apply a professional-strength whitening gel to your teeth

Expose your teeth to a special light for 15 minutes to help the gel penetrate and whiten your teeth

A veneer improves the appearance of the visible front surface of a tooth by covering it with a wafer-thin, custom-made shell of tooth-colored porcelain. With proper care and good oral hygiene, a veneer has a lifespan of 5-10 years.

A veneer is often diagnosed for a tooth that is:

Discolored or stained

Worn down, chipped or broken

Misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped

It may also be diagnosed to “fill the gap” between two otherwise healthy teeth.

Patient Experience

After a thorough exam of your teeth, gums and supporting bone structure, your Dentist will discuss treatment options with you and answer your questions. If the agreed upon treatment is a dental veneer, your Dentist will:

Apply a local anesthetic to the affected area of your mouth

Remove a small amount of enamel from the front of your tooth to make place for the veneer

Clean and polish the tooth’s front surface

Bond the veneer in place to permanently affix it

Expose the veneer to special hand-held light to harden the repaired surface of your tooth

Third molars, also called wisdom teeth, are the last set of permanent teeth to erupt in a person’s mouth and are the ones least needed. While the removal of wisdom teeth is the most well-known type of oral surgery, there are many reasons why oral surgery may be required.

Why get oral surgery?

While the removal of wisdom teeth is the most well-known type of oral surgery, there are many reasons why oral surgery may be required, including:

What are some common oral surgeries performed?

Tooth Extraction

After the application of anesthesia, special tools are inserted between the tooth and gum surrounding the tooth. The tooth is moved back and forth within its socket (the bone that encases the tooth’s root) until it separates from the ligament that holds the tooth in place. Sometimes a tooth is cut into small pieces (sectioned) before it is removed.

Impacted Tooth Extraction

The method for removing an impacted tooth will depend on how many roots it has and its location under your gum. Patient sedation is often used in addition to the application of an anesthesia to the impacted area.

A gum tissue flap is created to access bone tissue, and a small opening is made in the bone that covers the impacted tooth. The impacted tooth is then cut into small pieces (sectioned) and removed through the opening. The gum tissue flap is then repositioned and sutured in place.

Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Third molars, also called wisdom teeth, are the last set of permanent teeth to erupt in a person’s mouth and are the ones least needed. Wisdom teeth can endanger a patient’s dental health when:

They erupt through your gum, but your jaw is too small to hold them. As a result, they force other teeth out of alignment and can damage your bite.

They do not erupt through your gum and are not in a normal position. As a result, they crowd the roots of other teeth, force them out of alignment, and can damage your bite.

When your jaw is too small to accommodate normal wisdom teeth, it is common for gum or jaw discomfort and swelling to occur. In addition, there is a greater risk of developing gum (periodontal) disease.

Surgery to remove wisdom teeth is typically the best course of action. If a wisdom tooth has fully erupted through the gum, a standard tooth extraction is performed. If the tooth has not erupted through the gum, an impacted tooth extraction method is used.

Dentures and partials are created individually every time and completely customized to fit the unique contours of your mouth. This ensures a comfortable and secure fit with little risk for slipping.

For many people, the word “dentures” conjures up an image of their grandparents’ “false teeth,” huge blocky white squares set into vividly pink plastic gums. Fortunately, the technology and techniques used to create modern dentures have advanced considerably beyond those days!

Today’s dentures appear so natural and fit so securely that most people won’t be able to tell that you’re wearing an appliance. The teeth are crafted and placed individually to allow for the variation that occurs in nature and are carefully colored to look like real teeth.

Patient Experience

Before ordering your dentures, we’ll perform a thorough examination of your remaining teeth, your gums, and the bone beneath your gums. If you have teeth that need extraction because of extensive damage or decay, we’ll plan the procedure. We’ll also discuss all your tooth replacement options so that you can make an informed decision about which option is right for you.

When you are ready to be fitted for your denture, we’ll take impressions of your mouth so that you can be assured of having a denture that fits comfortably and securely.

Your next appointment will be to fit gum portion of the denture. This will check your bite to ensure that it’s correct.

Then we will bring you back to show you the denture and to make any aesthetic changes before the denture goes for final processing.

Once your denture is ready, we will complete any extractions needed. Your new denture will then be placed and fitted at the time of the extractions so you will not go without teeth at any point.

A partial denture is used when only a few teeth are missing while full dentures are used to replace a complete set of teeth. These tooth replacement options look great, are affordable, and are often covered by dental insurance (we can help you if you have any questions about your insurance coverage).

All restorative work (i.e. extractions & fillings) must be completed before impressions can be done for partials.

If you are concerned about the security of your dentures and would like to take extra precautions to improve the fit and prevent an embarrassing slip, we are happy to discuss implant-retained dentures and partials.

A titanium post is fixed in place in your jaw, and then fitted with an abutment that allows your denture to “snap” into place. This option combines the benefits and security of dental implants with the convenience and lower cost of dentures, which many of our patients appreciate.

Caring for your dentures properly will help them last longer, keep their shape, fit comfortably, and look more natural. Before sending you home with your denture, we’ll thoroughly review proper denture care with you, but knowing these simple steps will help:

Only clean your dentures with cleansers and brushes specifically designed for denture use.

When cleaning or rinsing your denture, keep the water cool to avoid warping the appliance.

Allowing your denture to dry out could cause the shape to change, so always keep it moist when it is not in your mouth.

Protect your denture from falls because these can crack or otherwise damage the denture. If your denture does happen to fall, bring it to us so we can check it for damage that you may not notice.

Clean your denture regularly to prevent the buildup of bacteria that can cause bad breath or even sores on your gums.

Creating and fitting a fixed porcelain bridge requires two or more appointments to our Phoenix dental office. The first step is to prepare your anchoring teeth for the bridge by shaping them so that the crown will fit securely. Next, we take an impression of your teeth to create a mold to send to the laboratory that will be crafting your restoration. We’ll place a temporary bridge until your permanent bridge is complete.

When you return for your second visit to our office, your newly created, permanent porcelain bridge will be carefully checked, measured, adjusted, and cemented to achieve a proper fit and natural appearance. The comfort and appearance of your bridge is extremely important to us, so if you ever have a problem, please call our office immediately.

We recognize that some of our patients may feel anxious or apprehensive about receiving dental care. Our doctors and staff work hard to make sure you have a comfortable, positive experience, and that’s why we are pleased to offer sedation dentistry for those patients who need a little extra comfort before receiving treatment.

Feeling anxious about receiving dental care should never prevent you from having the beautiful, healthy smile you deserve.

Inhaled Minimal Sedation

– You breathe nitrous oxide, otherwise known as “laughing gas,” combined with oxygen through a mask that’s placed over your nose. The gas helps you relax. Your dentist can control the amount of sedation you receive, and the gas tends to wear off quickly. This is the only form of sedation where you may be able to drive yourself home after the procedure.

Oral Sedation

– The dentist will typically prescribe 2 pills. Diazepam will be taken the night before the appointment to help you sleep. Halcion will be taken 1 hour prior to the appointment. The pill will make you drowsy, although you’ll still be awake. You will need a driver while on these medications.

Testimonials

I have been coming for a little over a year now and I couldn’t be more happier with Dr. Seth and all the staff at Verde River Dental. Everyone always has a smile on their face and is and has been so nice and helpful. You leave the office knowing your care is important to Dr. Seth and the entire staff! Thank you to all the wonderful caring people at Verde River Dental. You truly make my dental visits great! – Debra S.

You truly make my dental visits great

The entire visit was wonderful. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE every employee that I have come into contact with. Everyone is so nice and professional and always take the time to show concern for my comfort and welfare. I have recommended your office to several people. You are all GREAT! Thank you for caring for your patients as much as you do. -Jeanie S.

Everyone is so nice

As much as I don’t want to visit the dentist, you all seriously, truly, without a doubt, make the trip as pleasant as possible. I am impressed how you recognize me and call me by name when, obviously, I see you as little as possible :-). But that was true for every patient that walked in the door. -Danette M.

I am impressed

I have always hated going to dentist, was always scared to death but I can honestly say with a smile ” I Love going to the dentist!!” From the moment you walk in the door you feel so comfortable, everyone is friendly and so very very nice. – Jackie K.

Can honestly say with a smile ” I Love going to the dentist

Every staff member I encountered was professional, courteous, respectful, and treated me with dignity. My teeth need extensive attention and these people gave me hope that one day soon, I will be able to smile and actually show my teeth. – Gloria H.

Professional, courteous, respectful

It was the best dental experience I have ever had. I felt like I was part of the family & was cared about. I will tell everyone about my experience. Thank you so much. – Richard H.

Best dental experience I have ever had

Verde River Dental is a TEAM, a team working together to provide you with the best care each and every time you walk through their doors. They ALL stand out. And United They Stand. Thank you! – Elizabeth F.

Verde River Dental is a TEAM

From the front desk, to the hygienist, to Dr. Seth, I was very happy with my appointment. Very professional, caring and a very good experience. -Phillip D.

Very Professional

Just a pleasant experience, prompt service and it was comforting to see everyone again. Thank you for the caring atmosphere. -Mark C.

Pleasant Experience

The best care I’ve ever had from a dental service! My hygienist is extremely efficient and educational. I feel secure with my dental health. -Barbara C.

The best care I’ve ever had

Everyone was wonderful! I had to bring a 7 month old baby and not one person made me feel uncomfortable, quite the opposite. Thank you for everything, we’ll see ya soon! -Kaitlin A.